- Yellow-thighed Finch
Taxobox
name = Yellow-thighed Finch
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Passeriformes
familia =Emberizidae
genus = "Pselliophorus "
species = "P. tibialis"
binomial = "Pselliophorus tibialis"
binomial_authority = (Lawrence, 1864)The Yellow-thighed Finch, "Pselliophorus tibialis", is a
passerine bird which is endemic to the highlands ofCosta Rica and westernPanama . Despite its name, it is not a truefinch , but rather a member of the large Emberizidae family, which also includes buntings,American sparrow s,junco s andtowhee s.This is a common bird in wet mountain forests, second growth,
bamboo clumps, scrubby pasture and bushy clearings from 1700 m altitude to the timberline. When not breeding, it can descend to 1200 m on theCaribbean slopes.The nest, built by the female, is a bulky cup of plant material hidden in coarse grasses, bamboo or a thickly-foliaged tree 0.7-4.6 m above the ground. The female lays two brown-blotched white or pale blue eggs, which she incubates for 12-14 days.
The Yellow-thighed Finch is a long-tailed species, 18.5 cm long and weighing 31 g. The adult is mainly dark grey, becoming black on the crown, throat, wings and tail, and with an olive tinge to the belly and breast. The bright yellow thighs contrast with the otherwise drab plumage, and give this species its English and scientific names. Young birds have duller, sootier plumage with a brown tone to the underparts, and olive-brown thighs.
The Yellow-thighed Finch has a heavy metallic "tchuk" call, and pairs have a twittering tinkling greeting. The male’s song consists of high dry notes, "tee tididee dee wink wink", or similar phrases.
The Yellow-thighed Finch feeds at all levels from the treetops to the ground, taking
insect s andspider s and many berries. It will also squeeze nectar from flowers. It is seen in pairs, family groups or inmixed-species feeding flock s with other small birds such as warblers. It can be very approachable.References
* Stiles and Skutch, "A guide to the birds of Costa Rica", ISBN 0-8014-9600-4
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.